Speeches
Speech by Minister of State for Defence, Mr Desmond Choo at the Committee of Supply Debate 2026 on 27 February 2026
27 February 2026
Introduction
Mr Chairman, when we discuss national security in this chamber, we often focus on the hardware. We talk about the next-generation platforms, digital threats, and shifting geopolitical tides. But the true foundation of our defence does not lie in our armories, and as our security landscape transforms, the institutions that connect our National Service (NS) community with the broader society must transform as well.
Mr Patrick Tay asked about plans for SAFRA to better engage our wider Singaporean public. Today, I will outline SAFRA's evolving role in strengthening Singapore's defence ecosystem, transforming from what was once seen primarily as a social club into a vital, nation-wide defence movement.
The strength of NS as an institution has always rested on the contributions of our National Servicemen and the unwavering support of their families. NS is a compact of our society. It is the worker who puts down his tools, the teacher who leaves his classroom, and the father in the heartlands who trades his weekends for a uniform. That is why SAFRA was built in 1972 — not just as a collection of buildings for social purposes, but as a testimony to our shared recognition and support, and a place to celebrate the enduring bonds forged through service to Singapore.
SAFRA’s Journey: From Recognition to Community Engagement
I. Building the Foundation (1972 – 1980s)
After operating out of a temporary space in Prince Edward Lane, SAFRA’s first purpose-built clubhouse opened in Toa Payoh in 1975. This was during the formative years of Singapore, when social amenities remained modest and country club memberships were exclusive, expensive and out of reach for most Singaporeans. From the very beginning, SAFRA has made its membership accessible to every NSman – a reflection of our fundamental belief that service to nation deserves recognition.
II. Expansion and Growth (Late 1980s – Early 2000s)
When then-Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew opened the first clubhouse, he shared his vision for SAFRA. He stated that more clubhouses would be established in key residential areas because “the well-being of the SAF reservist includes the well-being of his family”. That insight remains as relevant today as it was then. By the mid-70s, membership quickly pushed to 10,000. Over the following decades, SAFRA expanded to increase accessibility, increasing its network of seven clubhouses across Singapore to now serving 400,000 members including full-time national servicemen (NSFs).
III. Deepening Engagement (From 2010s – present)
SAFRA has adapted and innovated with each new clubhouse, ensuring that it stayed true to its mission by providing relevant, affordable, and accessible offerings. Each Clubhouse has developed amenities and programmes to suit the region it serves. But buildings and membership numbers are not and should not be the true measure of SAFRA’s success and performance. The true measure lies in whether our servicemen feel supported. Whether their families feel appreciated. Whether Singaporeans understand and believe that NS is not an abstract policy, but a shared responsibility.
The Need for Evolution
The security landscape around us is changing rapidly. Threats are no longer confined to conventional battlefields. We face cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns, and attempts by foreign actors to exploit social divisions and erode trust in public institutions. These threats are designed not only to weaken our capabilities, but to weaken our cohesion. In such an environment, the strength of our defence depends not only on the SAF’s operational readiness. It depends on trust — between servicemen and society, between institutions and citizens.
Mr Alex Yam asked how we can ensure defence remains a shared national commitment across generations. This is where SAFRA’s role becomes even more critical. It must become an organisation that empowers NSmen to build trust and community-wide support for defence. What sets SAFRA apart from the other social clubs is its deep association with NS. It draws upon bonds forged in uniform — bonds of shared hardship, shared responsibility, and shared pride. Today, SAFRA’s clubhouses are vibrant community spaces. But as our operating environment evolves, SAFRA too must evolve. It cannot remain only a provider of lifestyle and recreational facilities. It must become a bridge — connecting our citizen soldiers with the broader community they protect. It must help every Singaporean understand that defence is not the responsibility of a few. It is the mission of all.
SAFRA Supporting the NS Community Through Life Stages
Mr Alex Yam also asked about how MINDEF can work with organisations like SAFRA to ensure that defence remains a shared national commitment for the whole-of-society. SAFRA has always been dedicated to serving the NS community. It will do more and differently by strengthening support for NSmen across every stage of their life. Its programmes and engagement will serve NSmen for each stage of their lives as they progress.
For pre-enlistees, the transition into NS can be daunting. It marks a significant milestone — one that demands maturity, resilience, and sacrifice. SAFRA will continue to support this transition through Pre-NS engagement programmes and initiatives such as water confidence courses and Pre-NS talks, helping young men build familiarity and confidence before enlistment.
For those transitioning after full-time NS, SAFRA hosts quarterly SkillsFuture@NS Fairs that connect them with career and education opportunities. These fairs also serve NSmen who are seeking new employment. Moving forward, SAFRA will deepen and enhance partnership with agencies such as NTUC’s Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) to strengthen career support for our NSmen.
For NSmen with young families, we recognise the unique opportunity to connect generations through shared understanding of NS. Many of us in this chamber know the reality of the work cadence today — missing the occasional full-day family outing, or coming home late from camp. It is this quiet, steadfast support at home that keeps our servicemen and women going.
To bridge this gap, SAFRA currently runs two types of NS Experience camps – the BMT Kids Camp and the NS Family Experience Camp. These camps provide families with a meaningful glimpse into the NS experience while introducing the concept of total defence to children from an early age. These camps also create valuable opportunities for NSmen fathers to share their NS journey with the next generation, explaining not just what they do in NS, but why they serve, and who they serve.
What started out as pilots in 2023 have become heavily demanded. Many participating families have expressed their appreciation, with some even becoming “repeat customers”. Building on this success, SAFRA will expand its partnership with the SAF and other organisations to develop new variants of the NS Experience camp. This includes a one-day NS for everyone programme, and a two-day Empowering NS for Women camp. When these programmes are ready, SAFRA will also invite NSmen and other volunteers to support as facilitators, ambassadors and storytellers. These NS Experience camps foster deeper understanding of our NSmen’s contributions, and will strengthen the community’s appreciation of the values of service and sacrifice that underpin our defence.
Even when NSmen complete their Operationally-Ready National Service training, their journey with SAFRA continues. For these former NSmen or “NS alumni”, SAFRA is developing a new initiative that goes beyond simply providing event spaces. It will partner with the SAF to create meaningful sessions where senior commanders share the latest developments in defence and strategic insights. These cohesions will serve a dual purpose: maintaining the social bonds forged during service, while strengthening our broader defence network by keeping NS alumni informed and connected to current defence issues. This ensures that the bonds and commitment forged during NS remain a vital part of our national defence fabric long after active duty ends.
Some of the most meaningful support within the NS community does not come from programmes. It comes from peers. NSmen bring with them diverse professional experience such as finance, technology, healthcare, and education. For example, since 2023, one NSman, LTC(NS) William Koh, has volunteered his expertise in financial planning, benefiting over 650 fellow NSmen through workshops and one-on-one coaching. This is defence in action — servicemen supporting servicemen.
SAFRA will expand such peer-to-peer platforms, encouraging more NSmen to step forward as mentors, facilitators, and industry connectors. In doing so, we strengthen not only individual livelihoods, but also the bonds that underpin our defence community.
SAFRA Strengthening Community’s Support for Defence
I have spoken about how SAFRA will strengthen its support for the NS community by curating engagements across life stages. SAFRA will continue to enhance the way we serve the NS community by developing good, accessible and quality lifestyle offerings and recreational facilities. The upcoming SAFRA Bayshore is an example of this commitment.
Next, let me turn to how SAFRA will deepen community engagement through NSmen. We will be taking two approaches. First, SAFRA will go beyond lifestyle offerings to bridge defence and community. While access to military camps must remain controlled, we can bring defence closer to the community. Mr Alex Yeo asked about MINDEF’s plans to leverage SAFRA’s network to raise defence awareness in the community. In the coming years, SAFRA clubhouses will house defence heritage galleries that will tell the stories of our Services and Formations through its walls and spaces. Our NSmen and their contributions will not be forgotten. It will also engage club tenants as partners, inviting them to become defence advocates through partnership programmes and exclusive promotions that celebrate our defence heritage. Our goal is simple: everyone who visits a SAFRA clubhouse in future should leave feeling more connected with Singapore’s defence story.
SAFRA will also work with community and defence partners to organise road shows for the public to learn more about the various aspects of defence. This will include supporting the SAF in scaling up its SAF-School Partnership Programme (SSPP). SSPP was started in the 2000s to deepen students’ understanding of the SAF through interactions at school visits or experiential learning by visiting camps.
The public can look forward to the inaugural SAFRA Community Defence & Resilience Festival in early 2027. To be held at multiple sites across Singapore, this Festival will feature defence-themed activities for the masses, engaging up to 80,000 participants. This will be accompanied by showcases of military equipment from the SAF and include exhibits where the community can learn more about our defence capabilities. For the fitness enthusiasts, you can look forward to an NS-inspired Fitness Festival in the later part of this year, complete with NS-themed obstacle courses. It is our version of Hyrox. This will comprise a fitness race for 3,000 participants, as well as a series of programmes in the lead up to the race. These programmes will be co-organised with the People’s Association and the NTUC, and we expect this to reach another 27,000 participants across the island.
We know that, ultimately, building community support for defence requires leadership from those who have served. Today, NSmen volunteer across SAFRA’s steering committees and regional initiatives. They shape programmes, organise outreach, and build partnerships with grassroots organisations, schools, and local businesses.
SAFRA will expand opportunities for NSmen to lead regional engagement efforts, strengthening ties between defence and community networks. In partnership with Nexus’ Engagement and Volunteer Office and as part of the broader SG Defence Volunteers Network which SMS Zaqy had mentioned earlier, SAFRA will also create pathways for youths, women, and other members of the community to contribute to defence-related initiatives. Through these expanded volunteer networks, we are building something more than a collection of programmes. We are strengthening a culture — a culture where service is valued, where sacrifice is understood, and where defence is embraced as a shared mission. We are strengthening the very foundation of our national defence.
Conclusion
In the face of new and evolving security challenges, NS is vital to our nation’s survival. SAFRA’s evolution is about helping every Singaporean understand their stake in our nation’s defence. We will achieve this with SAFRA serving as a bridge connecting our citizen soldiers with the wider community. When NSmen volunteer in their communities, when families participate in defence activities, when businesses support our servicemen, we create a nation where defence truly becomes everyone’s mission. Mr Chairman, this is how we strengthen the bonds between NSmen and their communities, building a more resilient Singapore. I am confident that together, we can and will succeed in this vital defence movement that our nation’s security depends on. Thank you.
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